1. Tweeting the Night Away: Using Twitter to Enhance Social Presence Joanna C. Dunlap Patrick R. Lowenthal

2. This is what most people think of Twitter YouTube Video

3. Introduction – What is Twitter? A microblogging service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question. Twitter is primarily used for daily chatter, conversations, sharing resources, and reporting news. It’s considered a “social network” because, depending on who you follow/who follows you, it can connect people with similar interests. YouTube video

4. The Importance of Social Presence Social presence is, “the ability of participants in a Community of Inquiry to project their personal characteristics into the community, thereby presenting themselves to other participants as ‘real people.’” Social interaction and connection has significant influence over student engagement. When faculty stay in touch with students through informal communication and dialogue, students report that it helps them get through the rough times (studying, etc.) and keep on working. It also helps them develop a better understanding of the material.

5. Twitter In Action If a student has a question about the reading/homework, they can ask other classmates or the instructor using a tool they’re comfortable using. A student finds something that relates to something they’re doing in class and can post a video/article link on Twitter for the rest of their classmates to see. A student can post something they’d like feedback from. People are more likely to give constructive feedback when they’re not doing discussing it face-to-face, thus making everyone more comfortable. In many studies, classmates developed better relationships with one another when they interacted with one another through Twitter.

6. Other Instructional Benefits of Twitter Addressing Student Issues in a Timely Manner - Twitter is available on nearly every mobile device, which makes it easy and practical for teachers to tend to students should they ask a question or need assistance. Writing Concisely - Twitter only allows for 140 characters, and while writing multiple “posts” is possible, it’s more convenient to write one explaining as much as you can in as few words as possible.